How to Grow Corals Quicker, Part II: Combined Effects of Water Velocity and Alkalinity Concentrations

If we want to grow corals more quickly, it helps to understand the interplay of the many variables that affect corals. Dana explores the relationship between alkalinity, water flow, photosynthesis, and nutrients.

A previous article examined the effects of increased inorganic carbon ('alkalinity') concentrations of symbiotic zooxanthellae - rates of photosynthesis within symbionts of the stony coral Porites lobata increased with increasing alkalinity concentrations. Discussion of how inorganic carbon is utilized and possible limitations concluded the article. For more details, see here:

This time, we'll examine the effects of water motion rates on symbiotic zooxanthellae photosynthesis, and what role alkalinity plays. These results are from several experiments I conducted for a presentation at the 2016 Marine Aquarium Conference of North American in San Diego, California. This article will present results of the second experiment, and is in more detail than was possible within the time constraints imposed on the presentation. Specifically, effects of two water velocities on photosynthesis were compared to those effects observed at various alkalinity concentrations. Results showed, that in the case of zooxanthellae found within the tissues of the stony coral Porites lobata, water motion increased the rate of photosynthesis on a scale equal to that seen when alkalinity is increased. I'll also briefly discuss possible effects of nutrients (ammonia and nitrate) on coral photosynthesis and growth.

Before beginning, perhaps we should review some terms used in this article.

Glossary

Momentum Boundary Layer (MBL): A thin layer of stagnant water surrounding a submerged object. The thickness of the MBL is inversely proportional to the rate of water velocity. Significant concentration gradients (either in or out of coral tissues) can exist if water motion is low. See Figure 1.

Carbon, Inorganic: There are several forms of inorganic carbon including carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, bicarbonate, and carbonate. Carbon dioxide and bicarbonate seem to be the inorganic carbon species preferred by zooxanthellae (depending upon the clade, or 'type', of zooxanthellae.)

Alkalinity: The ability of a solution to neutralize acids. Alkalinity can be reported in several ways (meq/L, ppm, mg/L as calcium carbonate - CaCO3) but Degree Carbonate Hardness (dKH) is often used by reef hobbyists.

mg/L: Milligrams per liter, which is roughly equivalent to parts per million (ppm.)

Photosynthesis: Conversion of inorganic carbon to simple sugar (organic carbon.) Carbon dioxide or bicarbonate can be the source of inorganic carbon. A by-product of photosynthesis is nascent oxygen.

Electron Transport Rate (ETR): A measure of the rate of photosynthesis. Light particles (photons), once absorbed by photopigments (chlorophylls, accessory pigments) become electrons and flow (normally) between photosystems. A low ETR means a low rate of photosynthesis; a high ETR means a high rate. If light absorption is measured, the electron flow is called ETR. If not, it is referred to as the Relative Electron Transport Rate or rETR.

Saturation (of Photosynthesis): Photosynthetic saturation occurs when raising the level of light will no longer increases the rate of photosynthesis.

Skeletogenesis: Creation of a skeleton.

Figure 1. The thickness of the momentum boundary layer (MBL) inversely proportional to water velocity.

Methods and Materials

Natural seawater in a 10-gallon (38 liter) aquarium was spiked with ammonium hydroxide, and the nitrification process (conversion of ammonia to nitrate) reduced alkalinity to an unnaturally low concentration over the course of a few weeks. Nitrogen species were measured through use of colorimeter (DR800; Hach, Loveland, Colorado, USA) and their reagents for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate (salicylate method, diazotization method, and cadmium reduction method, respectively. Nitrate measurements were corrected for chloride.) Once fully nitrified, half of this water was transferred to a five-gallon (19 liter) aquarium which contained a rack fashioned of plastic egg crate material. Fragments of the stony coral Porites lobata (glued to 'reef plugs') were then placed on this rack. Lighting was provided by a LED luminaire (dimmable) made by BuildMyLED (Austin, Texas, USA) and maintained at a sub-saturating intensity of 100 µmol·m²·sec as measured by a Li-Cor quantum meter and submersible LI-192 2 sensor (Li-Cor Biosciences, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.) A Tunze 6040 (Tunze Aquarientechnik GmbH, Penzberg, Germany) variable speed propeller pump was adjusted to provide two water velocities (1.9 and 3.8 inches per second - 4.8 and 9.7 centimeters per second, respectively.)

A Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometer (Junior PAM, Heinz Walz GmbH, Effeltrich, Germany) with a fiber optic cord measured the relative rate of photosynthesis (relative electron transport rate, or rETR) of the coral's zooxanthellae under conditions of high and low water motion and low, natural, slightly elevated, and high alkalinity. Figure 2 is a photo of the Walz PAM fluorometer.

The PAM fluorometer estimates rates of photosynthesis through evaluation of chlorophyll fluorescence. Chlorophyll fluorescence competes for photons with photosynthesis - in other words, fluorescence is high when photosynthesis is low, and photosynthesis is high when fluorescence is low. The fluorometer establishes low fluorescence after photosynthetic reaction centers are adapted to no or very low light intensity (all reaction centers are said to be 'open'.) After establishing low fluorescence, a pulse of light 'saturates' the reaction center 'closing' reactions centers, thus minimum and maximum fluorescence is established and the fluorometer calculates 'yield' of photosynthesis. If we measure light intensity (Photosynthetically Active Radiation or PAR, and expressed as Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) in units of micromole photons per square meter per second - µmol·m²·sec1) and multiply photosynthetic yield by this number, we can establish a 'Relative Electron Transport Rate' or 'rETR' between Photosystems II and Photosystems I. The higher the 'rETR' the higher the rate of photosynthesis. To properly establish rETR, a protocol should be followed. In this case, zooxanthellae must be adapted to low light intensity for at least 20 minutes so reaction centers can open. Afterwards, the fluorometer's fiber optic probe should be positioned close to the coral's surface (~1 mm) at an angle of ~60°. Once in place, a saturating pulse of actinic light closes reaction centers (maximized fluorescence.) In these experiments, light intensity was not increased since the goal was to examine impacts of water movement and alkalinity concentrations. The coral was allowed to adapt to these conditions for at least 20 minutes after water motion (or alkalinity) was increased.

Water velocities were determined through use of a Flo-Mate 2000 electronic water velocity meter (Marsh-McBirney, Birney, Maryland, USA - now marketed by Hach, Loveland, Colorado, USA.) See Figure 3.

Figure 3. The electronic water velocity meter used in these experiments.

Alkalinity concentrations were adjusted upwards with a commercially available buffer (Reef Builder, Seachem Laboratories, Madison, Georgia, USA.) Alkalinity was measured with a colorimeter (Alkalinity Checker HI755, Hanna Instruments, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA) and doubled checked initially by titration to a pH of 4.2 through use of a commercially available titrant (1.6N sulfuric acid) and a digital titrator (Hach, Loveland, Colorado, USA.)

Results

Figure 4 demonstrates that water motion can affect the rate of photosynthesis. Further, when we combine results of the water velocity and alkalinity experiments, some interesting trends emerge.

Figure 4. Rates of photosynthesis at two water velocities and three alkalinity concentrations.

Discussion

These experiments' results offer insights on rates of photosynthesis by water motion, alkalinity, and combined effects. It seems that water motion makes little difference (at velocities used) when alkalinity is low. At higher alkalinity concentrations, the effects of increased water motion become more pronounced. See Figure 4 and the flattening of the trendline at the lower flow rate. Table 1 lists the rates of photosynthesis (rETRs) at various water velocities and alkalinity concentrations. Figure 5 graphs these percent increases.

Table 1. Increases in rates of photosynthesis (expressed as % in the right-hand column) because of increased water velocity at 3 alkalinity concentrations (54, 114, and 215 mg/L.)

Alkalinity

None

None

Percent

54 mg/L

58.93

62.56

5.8%

114 mg/L

65.62

74.35

11.7%

215 mg/L

72.87

103.9267

29.88%

Figure 5. Zooxanthellae photosynthesis increased with increasing water velocity, but alkalinity appears to be limiting at low concentrations under the conditions of this experiment.

It is apparent that water motion positively impacts rates of photosynthesis, as does alkalinity. So, the question begs to be answered - which most affected these rates? Data sets were analyzed to quantify these increases. It becomes apparent that the effects of water motion are affected by the availability of inorganic carbon (alkalinity.) When alkalinity is very low (53 mg/L), water motion increased photosynthesis by only 5.8%. At a natural alkalinity concentration (114 mg/L), the rate of photosynthesis practically doubled when the water velocity was increased from 1.9 to 3.8 inches per second. Increased water motion caused the rate of photosynthesis to jump by almost 30% when alkalinity was increased to 215 mg/L.

It is interesting to note flattening of trendline at low water velocity. This may be due to a diffusion of inorganic carbon through a thickened momentum boundary layer reaching a maximum. The results of these two experiments (water motion and alkalinity) demonstrate the effects of water motion can be influenced by ambient concentration of alkalinity.

If we combine the effects of water motion and alkalinity, the rate of photosynthesis was increased by almost 60%.

We should note that the water velocities used in these experiments (1.9 and 3.9 inches per second) are well below those water velocities measured on a natural reef (Kailua-Kona, Big Island of Hawaii.) Even on a calm day, water velocities of 6-8 inches per second are the norm. To put this in perspective, this is 0.34 to 0.45 mile per hour. During storm or conditions of high surge, water velocity can certainly be measured in feet per second and it is too dangerous to even enter the water.

As a footnote, Jokiel et al. (1995) found concentrations of ultraviolet radiation-absorbing compounds (mycosporine-like amino acids, or MAAs) increased in coral tissues as water motion increased. Since MAAs are produced not by corals but by their symbiotic zooxanthellae (through the shikimate pathway), it is possible the increase is due to increased production by the symbionts (although an increased prey encounter rate is a possibility. Algae or particles containing MAAs could be ingested.)

In the previous article, we examined the possibility that elevated alkalinity concentrations could result in 'tip burn.' On the other hand, is it possible that prolonged conditions of low water velocity could create a diffusive boundary layer so thick that alkalinity (acting as an inorganic carbon source for photosynthesis) gradients could exist, thus limiting rates of photosynthesis (and its resultant lower production of oxygen and simple sugars, amino acids, and other foods?) We should remember that zooxanthellae and corals are dependent upon transfer of dissolved oxygen from the water column to them during periods of darkness (or shaded areas where rates of photosynthesis do not meet the respiratory requirements of the symbiont and host.) Is it possible that malnutrition in shaded area for foods translocated from zooxanthellae to their coral host eventually becomes starvation and soft tissues are consumed for their nutritive value?

Nutrients, Photosynthesis, and Coral Growth Rates

In these experiments, the nitrification process was used to naturally reduce alkalinity, and resulted in 24 mg/L (or roughly 24 parts per million, if you will) nitrate as N (this is over 100 mg/L if reported as nitrate (NO3). After my presentation at the 2016 MACNA in San Diego, aquarist Justin Hester asked how nutrients might impact rates of photosynthesis. I didn't have a ready answer at the time so I did some research and this is what I found.

Effects of Nitrate

Ferrier-Pagés et al. (2001) found nitrate additions (if combined with elevated iron concentrations) decreased coral growth rates by 34% over a 3-week period in the stony coral Stylophora pistillata while increasing cell-specific density of the algae. Recall that Atkinson and Bingman (1999) found elevated levels of iron in all artificial sea salts tested. Marubini and Davies (1996) reported that exposure to elevated nitrate concentrations decreased calcification rates by as much as 50% in the Caribbean stony corals Porites porites and Montastrea annularis. However, Taylor (1978) found that nitrate additions did not stimulate photosynthesis, production of metabolites by zooxanthellae, nor calcification rates of the Atlantic stony coral Acropora cervicornis.

Effects of Ammonia

The results of these experiments demonstrate that we cannot make sweeping statements on the effects of ammonia and nitrate. This raises an interesting question - Do different species or clades of zooxanthellae have a nitrogen source (ammonia or nitrate) preference? It has been shown that aquatic plants' preferences vary (between ammonia and nitrate, and sometimes nitrite) and we can speculate preferred sources of nitrogen vary among Symbiodinium types. This possibility deserves further examination.

With this said, it is impossible to know how nitrate concentrations might have affected the rates of photosynthesis in my experiments.

We can speculate that decreased growth was due to competition for inorganic carbon by the algae for their use as an inorganic source for photosynthesis, resulting in less available for skeletogenesis. This leads us to an investigation of sink-source limitations, something that requires a dedicated article.

It would be simple (if time consuming) to set up experiments to investigate the impact of elevated nutrient concentrations and, further, see if high alkalinity/water motion could mitigate the impacts, if any. It would also be interesting to determine the saturation point of photosynthesis (by light) and determine if water motion and/or alkalinity can alter (raise) that point. If so, it could re-write our understanding of the role lighting plays in the husbandry of our captive reefs. Stay tuned.

Taylor, D., 1978. Nutrition of algal-invertebrate symbiosis. II. Effects of exogenous nitrogen sources on growth, photosynthesis and the rate of excretion by algal symbionts in vivo and in vitro. Proc. Royal Society of London. Series B. 201(1145):401-412.